Diary (May 6, 2020)

Online diary of Karl Jones for Wednesday May 6, 2020.

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Diary

Song of the Day for Howard Kranz

Second in a series of songs for Howard and me to cover.

Ace in the Hole

"Ace in the Hole" by George Strait:

You've got to have an ace in the hole.
A little secret that nobody knows.
Life is a gamble, a game we all play,
But you need to save something for a rainy day.
You've got to learn to play your cards right if you expect to win in life.
Don't put it all on the line for just one roll.
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

If you're headed down a one way street.
And you're not sure it's the way you wanna go.
In money or love, or all the above,
Have a little more than what you show.
When life deals out a surprise
Have a few surprises of your own.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

You've got to have an ace in the hole.
A little secret that nobody knows.
Life is a gamble, a game we all play,
But you need to save something for a rainy day.
You've got to learn to play your cards right if you expect to win in life.
Don't put it all on the line for just one roll.
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

Don't put it all on the line for just one roll
You've got to have an ace in the hole.
No matter what you do, no matter where you go
You've got to have an ace in the hole.

• Ace in the Hole @ YouTube
• Ace in the Hole (George Strait song) @ Wikipedia - written by Dennis Adkins, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. George's touring band is called "The Ace in the Hole Band." It was released in July 1989 as the third single from his album Beyond the Blue Neon. It became his 18th #1 single as well as his 11th in a row.
• George Strait @ Wikipedia
• [ Comment] @ Facebook

Clicking my own heart

Concept art for "Superprophylacticmeasuresuntilvaccinedoses".

I don't always click the Heart icon for my own work.

But when I do, it's this work.

• Comment @ Facebook

• Superprophylacticmeasuresuntilvaccinedoses!

We know why otters juggle rocks

Of course we know why. We just can't verbalize it.

Juggle a rock, you will remember why.

• Comment @ Facebook
• Why otters ‘juggle’ rocks is still a mystery - Fiddling with stones looks as if it should boost dexterity, but a study didn’t find a link

May 3, 2020 paramilitary event in Venezuela

In the news: May 3, 2020 paramilitary event in Venezuela.

I am taking citizen-journalist action on this event.

Al Jazeera reports:

The Venezuelan government said this week it foiled an armed incursion from the sea, killing a group of alleged mercenaries who sought to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro and spark a coup.

Authorities blamed the alleged plot on the United States and said a number of "terrorists", including two former US soldiers, had been arrested.

The incident came at a time of high tensions between the US and Venezuela.

The US is among nearly 60 countries that back opposition politician Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader. It has also imposed tough economic sanctions against Caracas in an effort to force Maduro, whom it accuses of having rigged elections in 2018, to step down.

Here is what we know so far about the events of recent days:

What happened?

Maduro's government initially said eight people were killed as they tried to enter the country on May 3 via the Caribbean coast to topple the president. The Associated Press news agency said officials later revised the number of the suspects killed to six.

Venezuela says eight killed in foiled 'invasion by sea'

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the attackers tried to land on speedboats before dawn on a beach at Macuto, about an hour north of Caracas, but were intercepted by the military and special police units.

According to Reverol, the group, which departed from neighboring Colombia, planned to carry out "terrorist attacks", including assassinating officials.

He added the plan aimed "to increase the spiral of violence, generate chaos and confusion ... and with that lead to a new attempt at a coup d'etat".

Who was involved?

Venezuelan authorities said they had arrested 13 "terrorists" involved in the incident, including the son of a prominent imprisoned general.

In a televised address on Monday night, Maduro also showed what he said were the passports and other identification papers belonging to two former US army members: Airan Berry, 41 and Luke Denman, 34.

According to The Associated Press, military records showed both were decorated soldiers who served in Iraq.

Maduro described the pair as "members of Donald Trump's security" and said they were captured in a boat west of Caracas along with six other "terrorists".

Who was behind the alleged incursion?

On Sunday night, Jordan Goudreau, a US military veteran who leads a Florida-based security company, SilverCorp USA, claimed responsibility for the incursion.

He said he was working with two US citizens in an operation designed to capture, not kill, Maduro and "liberate" Venezuela.

Goudreau said he had organised the raid on a "shoestring budget" after signing an agreement with the US-backed Guaido, whom Goudreau accuses of failing to pay him.

Maduro tied the alleged plot to Guaido and Colombia's right-wing President Ivan Duque.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab shared on social media a video in which Goudreau says an operation against Maduro involving hired mercenaries was under way.

Saab also showed an alleged contract that said SilverCorp USA had a $212m agreement with Guaido using funds "stolen" from state oil company PDVSA, whose US subsidiary, Citgo, was put under the opposition leader's control.

Guaido denied having any relationship with Goudreau and any involvement in the incursion.

He also cast doubt on the Maduro government's version of the events.

"They're trying to create a state of apparent confusion, an effort to hide what's happening in Venezuela," Guaido said, citing local issues - such as petrol shortages, a deadly prison riot and a violent gang battle - in a country that has been gripped by deepening social, political and economic crises.

President Donald Trump said the US had no part in the incident.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, echoing Trump, said: "The United States government had nothing to do with what's happened in Venezuela in the last few days."

The State Department accused the Maduro government of a "highly questionable representation of the details", saying it did not accept the account at face value and was seeking more information.

Reacting to Trump's denial, Venezuela's Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez showed a photograph of Goudreau next to Trump.

He claimed the photograph was taken on October 18, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it appeared on Goudreau's Instagram account.

http://gnomonchronicles.com/wiki/May_3,_2020_paramilitary_event_in_Venezuela_(nonfiction)

What's next?

I'll bite.

Northern lights that get out of hand, mess up airline communications, and cause planes to crash. Just a what-if, top of my head, since you asked.

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Synchronickitty

Synchronickitty.

Synchronicity + kitty.

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Sparkling manslaughter bees

Sparkling manslaughter bees only sparkle if you polish them — which by definition can only happen in Poland.

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Fiction cross-reference

• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Karl Jones (nonfiction)